About

The farmingfriends website was set up at the end of 2006 and started as a diary of daily life on the farm but has grown into an online magazine and forum community packed with information, resources and products relating to farming, keeping livestock, food and nature. If you are a farmer, smallholder, animal enthusiast, parent, child or anyone interested in animals and the farming lifestyle, then the Farming Friends website and forum is for you.

Menu

Charolais

Cow number 32 had a calf in the early hours of Wednesday morning. When I went out at 7am the calf was standing and looked like it had been born for some time. It didn’t take me long to realise this was a newborn calf as the cow was very protective and acting in an … Read more

This morning at about 6.00am a Charolais heifer calf was born to Number 28 Charolais cow. Then this afternoon a Limousin cross bull calf was born to a Limousin Cross cow. Here is a video of the cows and calves. The Charolais calf is suckling after about 4 hours and the mother is very protective … Read more

During Autumn and Winter the Charolais cattle are kept in the fold yard and are fed silage twice a day. Here is a video clip of the Charolais cows and bull eating the silage. It is interesting to note that the bull is at the front end of the trough and this is where he … Read more

Charolais cattle have been bred and reared on our farm for nearly 50 years as they are a large fast growing breed of beef cattle. TBird asked about the temperament of Charolais cattle. What kind of temperament do your cattle have. My husband thinks Charolais are famous for a not-so-great temperament. We raise Hereford/Angus cross. … Read more

Calving of our beef cattle herd normally occurs during February and March, however in 2006 we introduced a new bull who was quite young. It took some time for our cows to get in calf and the result has been calves being born throughout the year. Our reliable Charolais bull had to be replaced as … Read more

Watch the video clip of the charolais cow calving and the immediate minutes after the birth. When one of our cows is near to calving, we move the cow into the calving pen so that she has more room away from the other cows. Up to four hours before the birth, the cow can usually … Read more